Geoegb wilkin



G. WILKIN.

(No ModelQ) DEATH.

Patented Deb. 22

UNITED STATES v PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WILKIN, OF DUNDEE, NEW YORK.

CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,853, dated December 22, 1885.

Application filed July 2-2, 1885. Serial No. 172,268. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

- Be it known that I, GEORGE WILKIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dundee, in the county of Yates and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Grates, of the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in crates used for picking and shipping fruit; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to make a crate specially adapted for picking, and that may be readily transformed into a shipping-crate; second, to admit of the crates being packed and loaded together, one above the other, in the least possible room, for shipping, and for the convenience of being carried to and from the pickers or field. I attain these objects by the arrangement of the crate illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my crate as it would be used for a picking-crate, with a portion broken away to show the groove or recess in its bottom. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of three crates, showing the man ner of combining for packing or shipping purposes, with baskets within. Fig, 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3/ 3 Fig. 1, of two crates as they would be combined. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cover. Fig. 5 is an edge view, in detail, of two spring-hooks when combined, as in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a front view, in detail, of same hook. Figs. 7 shows an equivalent or modified form of said hooks.

Similar letters refer to similar parts th roughout the several views.

The crate is usually made rectangular in form, but may vary somewhat in size or style, according to the fruit it is to contain, and in making, to the edges of the end pieces, B B, are nailed the slats 0 c c c and d d d d, to constitute the bottom and sides, and between them open spaces are left. These spaces serve for ventilation, excepting the central space, 6, in the bottom, whichis of proper width to receive a projecting central partition or handle, F, made equal, or nearly so, in width to the ends B B, and so nailed between them as to balance the crate when lifted by it, and to project or rise nearly one-half its width above said ends. To protect this space e from fruit, so that the handle F may readily pass within it when one crate is set upon another, I have nailed to the sides of the bottom slats, at the lower edge of said handle, thin shielding-strips i i. As the pickingcrates are thus placed together,'the handle F of one passes up into the groove 6 in the bottom of another, and when so placed it will be readily seen that slipping laterally in either direction is prevented; and now by the use of spring-hooks s s, or their equivalent, to hold one down upon the other, and by placing upon the last of the combined crates the independent lid H, (more fully explained hereinafter,) a ready shipping-crate is formed of any number of picking-crates, and without any extra change or handling of fruit, such as is necessary with the ordinary shipping-crate. To further strengthen the crates when so combined, and to relieve the handle F from too much strain that might be brought upon it, I have placed in the upper edges of head-pieces B B dowel-pins r a" r 7, arranged to enter corresponding holes, 1" 1" 1" r, in the lower edges as they are successively brought together. The spring 8, having an inclined hook, it, at its top or spring end, suitable to engage in an opening, 0, at the bottom or fixed end of another spring, is attached by means of screws to the ends B B, in position to insure the engagement of the spring end of one with the fixed end of another as the crates are pressed down together. The hook shown in Fig. 7 as an equivalent or a modified form may be used, and differs only in that, instead of the hook itself being a spring, a spring, 8, is inserted in it near its fixed end, and instead of screws to attach it to the head-piece B two staples are used, the lower one passing through the hook and forming said opening 0, while the other staple is driven over the hook and its spring, near its free end, merely for the purpose of guiding said hook and forming a seat for its spring 8.

In making a cover, E, that shall fit any and all of the crates it is necessary that a similar opening, 6, to that in the bottom be made to receive thehandle F, and through Which said handle may project, the spring-hooks catching over the lid ends, Fig. 3, which are protected from wear by short iron strips t t, laid upon cross-pieces d d, to which slats D D, of the right width, are nailed.

Having thus fully described my improvement, What I claim, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A crate having a raised portion, F, on one side and a recess or groove, e, to receive the corresponding portion, F, of another crate, substantially as described.

2. A crate having a raised portion on one side and an opening or recess in its opposite side, in combination with spring-actuated hooks, with apertures below the springs of the hooks, for the reception of the hooks of another crate, substantially as shown and described.

3. A crate having a raised portion, F, and dowels r r, or their equivalent, in combination with a crate having a recess or opening, e, to receive such raised portion, wherebylat eral movement is prevented when so arranged together, in the manner substantially as described.

4. In combination with a crate having the raised portion F and recess 0 underneath it, the cover H, having the opening 6 through it, substantially as described.

5. In a crate, the lid H, having protectingpieces f f, and an opening, a, through it, in combination with spring-actuated hooks, with apertures below the springs of the hooks, for the reception of the hooks of another crate, substantially as set forth and described.

GEORGE WVILKIN.

Witnesses:

G. S. SHATTUOK, E. G. Cos'roN. 

